Where:
Down Under School of Yoga - Back Bay
1112 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02215
Admission:
$700
Categories:
Classes, Lectures & Conferences, Sports & Active Life
Event website:
https://downunderyoga.com/upcoming-events/sama-ashtanga-intensive
Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 17
8:30-3:30pm each day • Back Bay
Sama!
This word touches the essence of what Chuck wants to teach. It is the first word Pattabhi Jois would say at the beginning of class. It is the first chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is the first word of the first pranayama practice in Ashtanga Yoga.
Chuck Miller, widely recognized as one of the world’s leading Ashtanga teachers, has inspired countless practitioners across the globe with his clarity, depth, and dedication to the art of yoga. A student of Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, Chuck helped co-found YogaWorks, shaping modern yoga in the United States, and has mentored many respected teachers, including Natasha Rizopoulos. His teaching combines decades of experience, technical mastery, and a deep connection to the heart of the practice.
We can learn one simple thing, knowing which gives us insight into many others. A small set of teachings can guide us through the complexity of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga—or any practice. This understanding helps us to be more calm and focused, reducing stress and confusion for both teacher and student.
Format:
Daily Themes:
This is the essence of practice—practice rather than performance. Yoga must not be performative, comparative, or competitive. It is just for us—all of us—to improve, to become better humans, to become humane beings.
Chuck prefers to call the asanas Practices, rather than poses or postures—they are alive, dynamic, ever-changing. It is not about speed or distance, but about starting correctly, with the right intention and effort. These foundational efforts bear fruit throughout your practice.
The Practice is a powerful diagnostic tool, allowing observation of aspects of ourselves that are otherwise invisible. Recognizing these patterns, or Samskaras, gives the opportunity to free ourselves from them, planting seeds of personal empowerment and continued evolution.
“This is not physical exercise,” Pattabhi Jois would say. “It is mental training, mental cleaning, clearing.” This is the deeper, real purpose of our practice—and it supports everything we do as human beings.
Wednesday, Jun 17, 2026 6:00p
Boston Area Spanish Exchange (BASE)
Saturday, Jun 20, 2026 10:00a
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Saturday, Jun 13, 2026 9:30a
The Newbury Hotel, Newbury Street entrance